Raven Ministry Blog

Visiting Teams From Across the Nation!

christine — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:45:12 +0000

[[Show as slideshow]]The Raven Ministry teams have been extremely blessed as youth teams from across the US join us to serve and minister in the parks throughout the summer! The vast majority of the youth visiting teams are recieving first-time hands-on experience with the homeless and hurting of NYC. Teams as small as 8 per group up to 44 in size have come along side of us as we go in to the city parks. Initially before we set off for the parks the teams are able to assist in food preparation, then to a time of prayer and worship before they embark into the NYC mission field. For many of them, this is considered a first time missions trip and their faces are etched with excitement!! Many of our visitors have expressed their experiences in the park as they are given the opportunity to minister and pray with the homeless. They are deeply shocked at the condition and state of the homeless (especially the street youth) who reside in the parks. The teams have virtually witnessed the devastating reality of how the enemy has consumed the homeless youth with drug addiction, alcoholism and homelessness. As the evening unravels, a weeping cry begins to surface in some of our visitors during and after ministry. Teams are leaving NYC with an overwhelming burden for the homeless…. Our prayers and hopes for the visiting teams is that God would move mightily upon the hearts of this Godly generation. Ultimately that they would return back home forever changed and touched for the hurting in their local town, city or perhaps across the world. This is just the beginning as we believe that God will produce a cry and a hunger for the lost in their hearts. Please take a moment to view the slide show and witness the visiting teams as they minister to the homeless in Tomkins Square Park. It is evident that God is raising up a generation that has a heart to be broken and given for fallen humanity.

Tomkins Square Park

admin — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:09:38 +0000

[[Show as slideshow]]

Getting Acquainted with Tomkins Square Park

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:56:47 +0000

We are excited as we begin to prepare and head back into the parks over the course of the summer months. Tomkins Square Park is branded as a sub-culture homeless park in which multitudes of youth flock to from throughout the US during the warm summer months. How do they get here? They prepare and travel hundreds of miles on freight trains until they arrive to their final destination…….. Tomkins Square Park. Upon their arrival they settle in and make this park their make-shift home base. This predominately youth crowd is likened to a colony-pack of teen-agers which can be spotted right away. They are riddled with scores of tattoos, body piercings, and for many even their faces are plagued with tattoo markings. Many are accompanied by their canine pets which are usually pit bulls and for some the detested rat. Drugs are administered unashamedly out in the open along with bottles of camoflauged bags of alcohol for consumption. These youth are notorious for their abrupt and care-free behaviors. Intimidation is quite obvious on the faces of the park locals who take a stroll, walk a dog, or perhaps a jog. The youth are feared and known as the outcasts of this park.
Although, lawlessness and intimidation abides in this place we are boldly going in to share the love of God to these young men and women who are ultimately hurting from past wounds, fear and rejection. Our team distributes specially prepared gourmet sandwiches along with fresh fruit and a delicious dessert. Although they are hungering for tangible food, they are also craving for a listening ear. As we warm up to them and develope friendships, they began to share their struggles and frustrations. We believe that as we continue to visit the youth God will bring them hope and show them that there is a loving Savior who loves them and is willing to take them just as they are. We will continue to go to those who are in need of a Helper and we know without a doubt that God has clearly established and grounded us in this particular park. Our hope is that they will receive and be restored by His unfailing love. Please pray that God will move upon this hardened generation and that the love of God will illuminate the darkened corners of Tomkins Square Park.

John from Barbour Hotel

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:41:13 +0000

Man from Barbour Hotel

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:54:07 +0000

Since the beginning of this year we have been going every Wednesday to the Barbour Hotel. John has been one of the residents that we have seen God’s been doing a good work in his life.

John came from a dysfunctional family. Most of his brothers have been in and out of jail or they are dead. He was raised in NYC but his family is from Puerto Rico. He had a Santeria and Pentecostal background growing up. He got mixed up with drugs and has been in and out of jail as a younger man for minor crimes. John has diabetes, HIV and is in his forties. He is also a father of three grown up boys and is married to his wife who is also sick.

Since coming to the shelter, we have seen God work in his life through prayer. John faithfully met with us every Wednesday to hear a message of hope and deliverance preached. Some nights he would be broken, despondent and in confusion but we would pray week after week and see his mind clear up. We also would see a hunger in John for more of God’s word so we decided to invite him over to TSC. We soon began to pick John up at the Barbour Hotel and drive him to the Sunday service.

John has been responding to the good news and wants to live a better life and be a better example to his sons and wife. Since coming to TSC John has responded to the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and has prayed the sinners prayer at the altar weeping with tears of joy and awe of the goodness of God. We want continual prayer for John that he will continually grow in the Lord and that he would stay steadfast.

Raven Video

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:55:50 +0000

[See post to watch Flash video]

Teams staying back for prayer

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:25:49 +0000

Every first of the month, each Raven teams stay back and pray for the needs of the ministry and for God to touch our hearts as we go out and minister to the homeless.

Raven Kitchen

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:18:49 +0000

This is the kitchen and it is here we prepare the meals and pray before we go out everyday. God has blessed us with a new equipped kitchen and he continues to bless us with it everyday as we go out. We also have a few scriptures to share with you about how our God feels about the poor and homeless and how his heart is stretched out towards them.

Psalm 146:7 Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free

Prov. 19:17. He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed.

Friday night at Bellevue

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:22:31 +0000

Friday night was wonderful. We went to Bellevue men’s shelter to show the
love of Christ. God is great, he answered our prayer and the people came
pouring in to be fed physically. Little did they know that after they left
they were also spiritually fed.

The prayers varied from people wanting to get housing to people praying for
freedom from physical ailments. People were open to hearing the gospel and
some accepted Jesus into their hearts and lives.

We thank the Lord for touching the hearts of the people even before we
showed up. As he said in his word, the harvest is ready but the laborers are
few.

Cardboard Testimonies

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:15:31 +0000

This summer we will be doing cardboard testimonies in the park. The
cardboard testimony is a powerful tool God has used in showing a life we
lived compared to now that we are believers. Some of us struggled with
doubt, fear, lies, anger, spirit of religion, drug addiction, etc. Now that
we met Christ he has given us love, peace, patience and freedom in him and
his word has touch our hearts.

We were once prisoners of our sins. Now we are prisoners of Jesus Christ.